FNDH 400 Exam 4 Questions with Correct
Answers
Difference between folic acid and folate
Folate is a B Vitamin that exists in either reduced form (Folate) or its oxidized form (Folic
acid). Folic acid refers to the synthetic form while folate refers to the natural form. Folate
also has more than one glutamate in the tail (polyglutamate), while folic acid has one
glutamate in the tail, (monoglutamate). Folic acid is more stable, folate can be destroyed by
heat, oxidation, and light. Folic acid is better absorbed because of higher bioavailability.
Dietary Folate Equivalents
Folate's bioavailability is much lower than folic acid, to account for this difference, the DRI
committee created dietary folate equivalents.
1 DFE = 1 ug food folate = 0.6 ug food folic acid = 0.5 ug folic acid on an empty stomach
DFE = ug food folate + (ug folic acid x 1.7)
The 1.7 came from research suggesting that folic acid from food was 85% bioavailable,
compared to 50% for folate (85 divided by 50 equals 1.7)
Cofactor form of Folate
Tetrahydrofolate (THF)
Why the US fortifies foods with folic acid
The neural tube closes quickly after conception (21-28 days) so females need to be
consuming folic acid very early in their pregnancy to decrease the risk of neural tube defects.
In addition, around 50% of pregnancies are unplanned, so many women might not know they
are pregnant in the period that folic acid needs to be consumed.
Women of reproductive age need to be consuming folic acid all the time to decrease the risk
, of neural tube defects. The US chose to fortify grains so that folic acid will be in the food
supply rather than relying on all reproductive aged women to be consuming folic acid
supplements.
What is megaloblastic anemia and why do Folate and Vitamin B12 deficiencies lead to
this condition?
Megaloblastic anemia is the same type of anemia that occurs in folate deficiencies
characterized by fewer enlarged immature red blood cells, but in Vitamin B12 deficiencies,
this can occur because there is not enough Cobalamin to convert 5-methyl THF to THF
(tetrahydrofolate). Thus THF is not available for normal DNA synthesis and the red blood
cells do not divide correctly.
Scientific name of B12
Cobalamin
Why is Vitamin B12 deficiency an issue for vegans and why most reliable sources of B12
are animal-based foods
Animals consume microorganisms in soil or bacteria that produce Vitamin B12. Fermented
soy products are not a reliable source of B12. Spirulina contains a pseudo-vitamin B12 that is
not bioavailable. Plants and animals do not synthesize B12.
Understand pernicious anemia, atrophic gastritis, intrinsic factor, and vitamin B12
deficiency
Pernicious anemia is a condition of inadequate intrinsic factor production that causes poor
vitamin B12 absorption, this is common in people over the age of 50 because they have the
condition atrophic gastritis. Atrophic gastritis is a chronic inflammatory condition that leads
to the loss of glands in the stomach, the loss of glands leads to decreased intrinsic factor
Answers
Difference between folic acid and folate
Folate is a B Vitamin that exists in either reduced form (Folate) or its oxidized form (Folic
acid). Folic acid refers to the synthetic form while folate refers to the natural form. Folate
also has more than one glutamate in the tail (polyglutamate), while folic acid has one
glutamate in the tail, (monoglutamate). Folic acid is more stable, folate can be destroyed by
heat, oxidation, and light. Folic acid is better absorbed because of higher bioavailability.
Dietary Folate Equivalents
Folate's bioavailability is much lower than folic acid, to account for this difference, the DRI
committee created dietary folate equivalents.
1 DFE = 1 ug food folate = 0.6 ug food folic acid = 0.5 ug folic acid on an empty stomach
DFE = ug food folate + (ug folic acid x 1.7)
The 1.7 came from research suggesting that folic acid from food was 85% bioavailable,
compared to 50% for folate (85 divided by 50 equals 1.7)
Cofactor form of Folate
Tetrahydrofolate (THF)
Why the US fortifies foods with folic acid
The neural tube closes quickly after conception (21-28 days) so females need to be
consuming folic acid very early in their pregnancy to decrease the risk of neural tube defects.
In addition, around 50% of pregnancies are unplanned, so many women might not know they
are pregnant in the period that folic acid needs to be consumed.
Women of reproductive age need to be consuming folic acid all the time to decrease the risk
, of neural tube defects. The US chose to fortify grains so that folic acid will be in the food
supply rather than relying on all reproductive aged women to be consuming folic acid
supplements.
What is megaloblastic anemia and why do Folate and Vitamin B12 deficiencies lead to
this condition?
Megaloblastic anemia is the same type of anemia that occurs in folate deficiencies
characterized by fewer enlarged immature red blood cells, but in Vitamin B12 deficiencies,
this can occur because there is not enough Cobalamin to convert 5-methyl THF to THF
(tetrahydrofolate). Thus THF is not available for normal DNA synthesis and the red blood
cells do not divide correctly.
Scientific name of B12
Cobalamin
Why is Vitamin B12 deficiency an issue for vegans and why most reliable sources of B12
are animal-based foods
Animals consume microorganisms in soil or bacteria that produce Vitamin B12. Fermented
soy products are not a reliable source of B12. Spirulina contains a pseudo-vitamin B12 that is
not bioavailable. Plants and animals do not synthesize B12.
Understand pernicious anemia, atrophic gastritis, intrinsic factor, and vitamin B12
deficiency
Pernicious anemia is a condition of inadequate intrinsic factor production that causes poor
vitamin B12 absorption, this is common in people over the age of 50 because they have the
condition atrophic gastritis. Atrophic gastritis is a chronic inflammatory condition that leads
to the loss of glands in the stomach, the loss of glands leads to decreased intrinsic factor
